Obituary of Rita A. Verry

Rita A. Verry of Tiffin, died Sunday, May 26, 2013, surrounded by her family at home. Funeral services will be held at 10 am Friday, May 31, 2013, at St. Thomas More Catholic Church in Coralville, with burial to follow at the Oak Hill Cemetery in Tiffin. Visitation will be held from 4 to 7pm Thursday at Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service in Iowa City where a parish vigil service will be at 7pm. A memorial fund has been established in Rita's memory. Online condolences may be sent through the web @ www.gayandciha.com. Rita Ann Kasper was born June 10, 1935, in rural Johnson County, Iowa the daughter of Ambrose and Leona (Hebl) Kasper. Growing up in the Tiffin area she graduated from Tiffin High School in 1953. Rita married William H. Verry on June 1, 1957, at the St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Iowa City, where she was a lifetime member. She was proud to call Tiffin her home for over 50 years, where she and her husband raised her family and later enjoyed her many grandchildren. Her proudest job titles were mom and grandma. When she left the farm to get married, she maintained the farming approach to many things in her life, which she passed on to her family. She raised a large garden not only to provide food, but to teach discipline to her kids as well, including constant weeding. She loved the outdoors, her flowers, gardens, birds, fishing, and loved to take an annual 2-week campout, to Old Thrashers Reunion each year. She enjoyed talking tractors and her stories of driving every tractor on the farm. Teaching the jitterbug to all who would watch and square dancing also brought her much pleasure. Most of all, her family, friends, and neighbors, her strong faith and the gift of laughter that she shared freely was what she held most dear. Her family includes her six children, Steve Verry, Mike Verry, Sandy Bryant (Randy), Linda Walls, Jim Verry (Lynn) and Holly Cabuay (Barry); 13 grandchildren, sisters, Dolores Vorel (Leonard) and Mary Ann Verscha; and a brother, Bill Rogers. She was preceded in death by her parents, step-father, Ralph Rogers; husband, William; sister, Frances Wenman; and a brother-in-law, Richard Verscha. Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service is caring for Rita's family and her services.